Pulver Leads WEC 41 Paydays

If this was the end for Jens Pulver,
he went out with a financial bang.

The former UFC lightweight champion banked an event-high $31,253 in
his submission loss to Josh Grispi
at WEC 41 “Brown vs. Faber 2” on Sunday at the Arco Arena in
Sacramento, Calif., according to information released by the
California State Athletic Commission. The match lasted little more
than half a minute.

Pulver, who turns 35 in December, has lost four consecutive fights
and six of his last seven. He has not survived the first round in
any of his last three appearances, leading many to speculate --
including Pulver himself -- he may retire. Pulver, who succumbed to
a Grispi guillotine choke in 33 seconds, has only one victory since
he knocked out Cole
Escovedo at an International Fight League event in April
2006.

Meanwhile, Manny
Gamburyan pocketed $26,960, including a $14,000 win bonus, in
his unanimous decision victory against the previously unbeaten
John
Franchi. “The Ultimate Fighter 5” lightweight finalist snapped
a two-fight losing streak with the win, though he was booed after
what many viewed as a lackluster performance.

Gamburyan earned more than either of the two fighters in the main
event. WEC featherweight champion Mike Thomas
Brown banked $25,256, including a $13,000 win bonus, after he
posted a unanimous decision against Urijah Faber
in one of the year’s most anticipated rematches. Faber, who
suffered a broken hand in the first round, left with $25,790.